Great Horned Owl (also known as Tiger Owl or Hoot Owl)

A large, thick-bodied owl with prominent ear tufts (plumicorns) and a white throat patch. They possess a wingspan of 3 to 5 feet and are known for their golden-yellow eyes and powerful grip.

Base color of cream to light buff with 7-9 distinct, dark brown horizontal bars. The bars are 'mottled' rather than solid, showing a classic salt-and-pepper texture characteristic of the species.

The structure features a mix of pennaceous (interlocked) barbs at the tip and plumulaceous (downy) barbs near the base. Most notably, it has a soft, velvety fringe (fimbriae) on the edges to dampen sound.

Extremely soft and velvety to the touch. The surface has a 'matte' finish due to a specialized pile or 'bloom' that absorbs light and sound, characteristic of nocturnal predators.

Bold, dark horizontal banding; soft, 'fuzzy' surface texture for silent flight; broad tail shape; and a cream-colored base with heavy dark-brown mottling.

Highly adaptable; found in deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, deserts, tundra edges, tropical rainforests, cities, and suburban parks.

Year-round resident across most of North America, from the Arctic tree line south through Central America and much of South America.

An apex predator; plays a vital role in controlling populations of rodents, rabbits, and even other birds of prey. Status is generally stable (Least Concern).

Long-eared Owl feathers are smaller with narrower banding; Barred Owl feathers have cleaner, more defined white-and-brown contrast without the heavy 'mottling' seen here.

Great Horned Owls are one of the few predators that regularly hunt skunks because they have a very poor sense of smell. They can exert over 300 pounds per square inch of pressure with their talons.

Good condition overall, though showing some minor 'splitting' of the vanes near the mid-section and slight wear at the tip. No obvious signs of parasite damage or fault bars.